OMNOVA Solutions announces CEO succession

OMNOVA Solutions Inc., a technology-based company, announced that Kevin M. McMullen is stepping down as chairman, CEO and president, and as a member of the board of directors, effective December 1, 2016.

Mr. McMullen joined the Company in 1996 as President of its Decorative and Building Products unit. He took over as Chief Executive Officer of the Company in 2000 and became Chairman of the Board in 2001.

Prior to OMNOVA, he worked for GE and McKinsey & Co.

Mr. McMullen will be succeeded by Anne P. Noonan as OMNOVA's President and Chief Executive Officer, effective December 1, 2016.

Ms. Noonan will also be appointed to the Company's Board of Directors. Ms. Noonan, is currently the President of OMNOVA's Performance Chemicals business. Ms. Noonan brings nearly 30 years of experience in the chemicals industry.

Prior to joining OMNOVA in 2014, she served as Senior Vice President and President of Chemtura Corporation's Industrial Engineered Products business segment.

During her 27 years with Chemtura and its predecessor, Great Lakes Chemical Corporation, she served in roles of increasing responsibility in mergers & acquisitions, strategic business development, marketing, sales, and technology.

She began her career as an Analytical Research Chemist with McNeil Specialty Chemicals Company and Squibb-Linson, Co.

Ms. Noonan earned her M.S. in organometallic chemistry and her B.S. Honors degree in chemistry from University College Dublin, Ireland.

Since 2015, she has been a member of the Board of Directors of CF Industries, as well as the Board of Directors of the American Chemistry Council.

In connection with this leadership transition, the Board of Directors has determined to separate the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer roles, electing William R. Seelbach as the Company's independent, non-executive Chairman, also effective December 1, 2016.

Mr. Seelbach will succeed Mr. McMullen as OMNOVA's Chairman.

Mr. Seelbach has been a non-executive member of OMNOVA's Board of Directors since 2002.

He is a Senior Advisor with the Riverside Company, the world's largest private equity firm focused on investing in companies at the smaller end of the middle market, and a Senior Managing Director of Headwaters SC, a consulting firm for privately owned businesses.

Previously, he was the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Ohio Aerospace Institute, a technology-focused research organization, from 2003 to 2006.

Prior to that, he was the President of Brush Engineered Materials, Inc., now known as Materion Corporation, a manufacturer of high performance engineered materials, and held various executive roles with Brush Wellman, Inc. from 1998 to 2002.

Mr. Seelbach was also the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Inverness Partners, a limited liability company engaged in acquiring and operating Midwestern manufacturing companies, and a Partner with McKinsey & Co. ■